Though winter’s chill persists outside, the feel of springtime arrives in Philadelphia this month thanks to the 2016 Philadelphia Flower Show presented by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, March 5-13.
For 188 years, the Philadelphia Flower Show has captivated visitors from around the globe with stunning displays celebrating the tradition of horticulture, the beauty of plants and the art of gardening.
Flower Show Fast Facts
The 2016 Flower Show opens Saturday, March 5 and closes Sunday, March 13
Tickets runs $27 for adults, $20 for students and $15 for children
The 2016 Flower Show theme is “Explore America: 100 Years of the National Park Service”
Flower Show exhibits and main events take place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center at 12th and Arch streets
Highlights include soaring floral displays, a huge plant sale and pop-up beer gardens
This year marks not only the 188th PHS Philadelphia Flower Show, but also 100 years of the National Park Service, the stewards of America’s national parks, monuments, battlefields, historic sites, seashores, scenic rivers and trails, the White House and more.
The Flower Show’s impressive large-scale gardens, landscapes and floral creations will all rally under this year’s theme — “Explore America: 100 Years of the National Park Service” — which will honor the National Park Serice’s centennial and provide a rich supply of inspiration for horticultural creativity.
(Photo by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia)
The world’s oldest and largest indoor event of its kind, the Flower Show draws more than 260,000 people to Center City Philadelphia every year.
Top Reasons To Visit The Flower Show
The world’s oldest and largest indoor event of its kind, the Flower Show draws more than 260,000 people to Center City Philadelphia every year to take in spectacular floral displays of all shape and size and to take advantage of all the floral action in our fair city.
Beyond the garden displays, the Flower Show hosts a stage for a major juried competition in horticulture and floral arranging, as well as tons of gardening talks and demonstrations, special events, a sprawling indoor market and tons of food and drink options — beer garden, anyone?
Inspiring “Explore America” Theme
Tapping America’s more than 400 national parks sites as a kicking off point, designers from across the globe will create and display exhibits to fill the convention center’s 10 acres with floral arrangements, gardens and landscapes.
Huge Entrance Garden
A soaring entrance garden at the 2016 Flower Show welcomes visitors with a spectacle to “Big Timber Lodge,” a take on classic park architecture via an immersive display of art, flowers, waterfalls, dramatic imagery and the sounds of nature.
(Image courtesy GMR Design for PHS)
Look out for the Flower Show entrance garden, “Big Timber Lodge,” a take on classic national park architecture via an immersive multimedia floral display.
PHS Pop-Up Beer Garden
Returning for 2016, the traveling summertime attraction, the PHS Pop-Up Garden, will pop up at the Philadelphia Flower Show. An awesome PHS program, the Pop-Up Garden initiative has transformed various pockets of underused land around Philadelphia to beautifully landscaped community spaces each summer for the past four years.
At the Flower Show, an indoor version of the come-one-come-all destination will be found at “Base Camp,” in the Convention Center’s main hall. A great location to take some respite from trekking through the show, the area will include a giant pop-up beer garden, as well as shopping, dining, live music and Fine Wine & Good Spirits tastings.
Enormous Flower Show Marketplace
Shopping is a huge component of the Flower Show and, in 2016, more than 180 vendors will set up shop on the convention center floor to peddle a dizzying array of garden furniture, hand-crafted jewelry, cut flowers, unique plants, garden tools, seeds and so much more.
(Courtesy PHS)
The Flower Show Marketplace houses more than 180 vendors peddling flowers, jewelry, accessories and so much more right on the convention center main floor.
Returning in 2015, the Garden to Table Studio brings culinary action to the Flower Show main floor. Free daily half-hour cooking demonstrations take the stage with some of Philly’s top chefs and food personalities making appearances.
Not-To-Miss Special Events
With the annual show comes a slew of related programs, parties, exhibitions and specials, and this year is no exception.
Black Tie Preview Party
Before the show officially opens, join supporters of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society for a black-tie party on Friday, March 4. Come dressed to impress, and take advantage of this opportunity to experience the beautiful designs and displays of the Flower Show before it opens to the public.
Wedding Wednesday
On Wednesday, March 9, brides-to-be can get wedding advice from more than 50 local experts and sample champagne during Wedding Wednesday at the Flower Show. All guests receive a complimentary gift bag. Tickets are $50 per person and include admission to the Flower Show.
Fido Friday
On Friday, March 11, explore the show with your pup. In partnership with PAWS, Fido Friday invites four-legged and two-legged friends to experience the show together, starting off with a 6 p.m. “Yappy Hour” at the show’s pop-up beer garden.
Flower Show Jamboree
On Sunday, March 13 the Flower Show Jamboree features family-friendly activities, placing kids at center stage – and we mean that quite literally. Opportunities to earn a “Junior Ranger Badge” will be followed by a swearing-in ceremony on the show’s stage near the entrance of the exhibit.
(Photo by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia)
Making plans to visit the 2016 Flower Show? Love a deal? Scoop up tickets online in advance and save $5.
How To Get Tickets
Scooping up tickets to the Flower Show is a cinch. Visitors can pre-order tickets online — saving $5 off tickets — and print them out at home.
Tickets are available in advance for $27 ($32 at the door) for adults, $20 ($22 at the door) for students with valid ID and $15 ($17 at the door) for children ages 2-16. A service fee of $1 per ticket is applied at checkout.
Tickets can also be purchased in advance of the Flower Show at a number of sales outlets including AAA Mid-Atlantic branches, ACME Markets, Giant Food Stores, Whole Foods Markets, Wegmans Markets and SEPTA ticket outlets.
Make Plans To Stay Over
The Flower Show also makes an excellent excuse to stay overnight in one of Philadelphia’s fine hotels. Check here for Flower Show hotel packages, and check out the Visit Philly Overnight Hotel Package.
For additional information on getting there and parking information, check right here.
See you at the show!
The post Everything You Need To Know About The 2016 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show appeared first on Uwishunu - Philadelphia Blog About Things to Do, Events, Restaurants, Food, Nightlife and More.